COYOTES GET A WELL EARNED VICTORY, DEFEAT KINGS 4-2

Back to back games have not been kind to the Kings. First Calgary and now this.

The Kings played an awful first period. The Kings’ defense was awful. Quick was awful. The Kings passing was awful. The latter issue was glaring through each of the periods as anything over 15 feet missed by several feet. I am not sure the Kings connected more than 2 consecutive passes during the entire game.

There are too many things that went wrong in this game and to spend time listing them is a waste of time. The bottom line is The Kings didn’t show up tonight and Terry Murray’s only answer was to juggle the lines.

I will leave you with this. The Kings have given up more shorthanded goals than they have scored powerplay goals. Let that sink in. That has to change now. You cannot win in this league on a consistent basis with a dismal powerplay. You also can’t do it if you stand around and watch the other team skate by you.

I would like to thank FSN for covering the Kings for 2.5 minutes after the game and immediately transitioning programming to the far more important UCLA Sports Report. That’s why Kings fans like myself tune in. We consider the Kings game just a transition to the scripted summary and interview regarding College sports.

8 replies

Scribe, I respectfully disagree, it’s not just one game. We haven’t played a stellar game yet. I thought the first Vancouver game was good and the second Van game very good. Other than that we have been far below our potential.

Where is our Captain? How about our most skilled player? How about that guy who doesn’t like being in Doughty’s shadow? When are they going to alter a game and make a difference. Power play is just killing us.

The “old man” line was again the most noticeable. Williams was again, if not the best player, was deffifinately top two. That line can’t be our best line njght after night if we expect to be relevent.

This Kings team wins games based on defense and goaltending. They are the fuel for the offense. When the Kings play poor defense, the offensive side never gets going. That is what we saw tonight. When the Kings’ defense plays well and the goaltending is on, the forwards use that puck possession time to cycle and create time and space.

When I judge how the Kings have played, I start with that premise. How was the defense in each of the games we won – pretty good. How was the goaltending – excellent. How was the offense? As I expect it to be on most nights. Above average when the first two are there.

Remember Ryan that this team does not have a true 2nd line center and 1st line wing. That is a serious handicap compared to the “elite” teams in the league. That is why it must start with the backend and progress from there.

Loktionov was definitely playing like he wants to stay, and Simmonds snapped out of his funk, and played like the Simmonds who became my favorite player on the team. Other than that, they need to shake this game off and move on to the next one.

Kopi-Smyth-Williams. That should be the top line. Its the best the Kings have. Kopitar’s skills are wasted between Loktionov and Brown. He is twice the player Stoll is. Does anyone still remember last season?